Suppose your furry friend can't be inside the house with you all the time. There can be no lapse in luxury just because they are outside. They need the comforts of home in their outdoor living quarters, and it needs to be crafted by yours truly. There just comes a certain satisfaction knowing that you're responsible to make their outdoor living experience optimal.
How do you go about it, though?
Building something from scratch even on a smaller scale can be a huge, complicated undertaking. The best way to take on a project is break it down bit by bit into supplies and procedures.
Let us do that for you. Here we go!
SUPPLIES FOR YOUR DIY DOGHOUSE
- (1) 3/4″ plywood 48 x 48
- (1) 3/8″ plywood 4″
- OC grooved 48 x 96
- (3) 1 x 6 treated wood 8′
- (2) 2 x 4 treated wood 8′
- (3) 2 x 4 non treated wood 8′
- (1) 5/8 ” wood screws
- (3) 1/3 non treated wood 8′
- 3″ dry wall screws
- 7/8 ” galvanized roofing nails
- #6 1/2 ” Phillips screws
- 5D 1 3/4″ galvanized nails
- TP15 strong tie plate 1 3/4″ x 5″
- Drill
- Jigsaw
- Hammer
- Circular Saw
- Quick Square
- Three-Tab Roof Shingles
- 3/32″ Phillips-Head Drill Bit
- Level Tape Measure
- Compass or Ruler
- Marker
- Safety Goggles
- Sawhorse
MAKING INITIAL CUTS
When you make the initial cuts label the boards with a marker with the corresponding letters as below.
(A) 2 – 43″ 2 X 4 (treated)
(B) 2 – 27″ 2 X 4 (treated)
(C) 1 – 24″ 2 x 4 (treated)
(D) 8 – 29″ 1 x 6 (treated)
(E) 4 – 29″ 2 x 4 (non treated)
(F) 3 – 27″ 2 x 4 (non treated)
(G) 2 – 18 1/2″ 2 x 4 (non treated)
(S)10 – 13 3/8″ 2 x 4 (non treated)
(R) 4 – 18″ 2 x 4 (non treated)
(BR) 4 – 18 13/16″ 1 x 3 (non treated)
(GT) 2 – 18″ 1 x 3 (non treated)
(WT) 2 – 44 1/2″ 1 x 3 (non treated)
(Use treated wood for the base of the doghouse.)
The barge drafter (BR) and the gable trim (GT) pieces will need more angled cuts on the ends. Cut off the opposite corners of the barge rafter (BR) and the gable trim (GT) pieces at a 32-degree angle. For the rafter pieces (R), make the same cut as you did for the barge rafter and gable trim pieces. Then on only one side make one additional cut at the 2″ mark which will create a 90-degree angle on the end of the rafter pieces (R).
PLYWOOD WALL PIECES
One piece of plywood will make all four of your walls.
– Cut both side walls 19 3/4″ x 36″
– Cut front wall 27″ x 27 3/4″
To cut the roof pitch:
– Measure 18 3/8″ from the bottom and mark on each side.
– Find the center of top part of board and saw off the top right and left corners to create a triangle.
With the remaining pieces of plywood:
– Measure 1 3/8″ from the bottom and place the front wall on top of it, trace and cut. This should leave you with a back wall measuring 28 3/8″ x 27 3/4″
– Find the center point of the front wall, place compass 9 3/4″ above it and use pencil to trace half circle for opening and jigsaw cut it out for front door.
– Cut 3/4″ plywood into two halves.
– Pre-drill holes for all the screws 3/4″ from edges.
BUILDING THE BASE
– 2 (A) for sides of frame.
– 2 (B) for front and back.
– 1 (C) for support in the middle.
– 8 (D) that will go on top as decking.
Since you already have pilot holes drilled, use drill to attach (A), (B), (C) pieces with wood screws which will be the frame for the base.
Take (D) pieces and lay them across the frame evenly spaced and take the drill to screw the pieces into place on the frame. If the decking is not pretreated, you can go ahead and stain it or paint it right now.
SIDE WALL FRAMES
– 4 (E)
– 4 (S)
(Will make two frames)
For the first frame, take out two (E) pieces and put 2 (S) pieces, screw those together. Repeat that for the second wall frame.
BACK WALL FRAME
– 2 (F)
– 2 (S)
You're going to repeat the same steps as you did for the side wall pieces in this step.
FRONT WALL FRAME
– 2 (F)
– 2 (G)
– 4 (S)
The doorway is in this piece. Need to frame it out. Start with the (F) piece. Run the (S) pieces down the (F) piece and put the (G) pieces sideways on the bottom of the (S) pieces. This will create the doorway. Screw everything together.
RAFTERS, BARGE RAFTERS AND GABLE TRIM
– 4 (R)
– 4 (BR)
– 2 (GT)
Put two (R) pieces together on the sides that required just one cut. Then attach a strong tie plate on the inside where the pieces of wood are joined and add 3″ screws for security.
Two of the (BR) will be attached directly to the siding. Since the front (BR) doesn't attach to a frame, recommend screwing a strong tie plate.
ASSEMBLE YOUR HOUSE
The four wall frames should all line up with the bases. There will be a little space left over to allow for a puppy porch. Secure each frame to the base with 3″ screws and then screw all of the wall frames themselves together.
Attach the roof rafter to the frame, one in the front and one in the back.
FRAME UP
Attach each of the walls to the frames. Next attach each roof piece by drilling screws along the border of the frame. Then take two wall trim pieces (WT) and connect to the sides of the house and (GT) to the front. Secure the (BR) with plate assembly to where the wall trim extends in the front. Attach the final (BR) pieces to the back wall.
Attach three-tab roof shingles to prevent leaks. Start at the bottom and work up to peak using roofing nails.
PAINT AND DECORATE
This is the fun part. Paint or stain the outside of the pet dream home in a fun color. Make a plaque with your pet's name for over the door. It would be extra special to use stencils to paint designs on the house or hang treasures over it to give it some flair.
On the inside be sure to have all of your pets prized possessions. A nice bed with some warm blankets is of utmost importance. He/she will need their favorite toys. There needs to be food and water. They have to have some treats. And on the little porch, some doggy decor for their puppy pals.
KEEPING YOUR PUP WARM IN THE COLD WEATHER
There are different things you can do to make sure your puppy stays warm in the cold weather if he stays outside. First, if it's extreme temperatures cold or hot, they need to be brought inside.
- Heating and AC units. These are available for dog houses believe it or not. They cost over $500, but it's worth it to keep your furry friend comfortable.
- Carpet. There is comfortable outdoor carpets available that will get his/her bed off of the hard, cold decking. It would be, not only warmer, but softer for them to lie down.
- Heating pads. Hot pads are made for the outside that warm to over 100 degrees and will keep pups super warm.
- Door. Put a door on the doghouse with a puppy in/out to keep out the elements.
- Bed. Get the bed up off of the floor. Have plenty of blankets and pillows out in the house for the pet.
- Food. Make sure furry friend has plenty of food. Cold/hot causes the body to burn more fuel. Allow for that and have them eat more.
- Water. In the warm weather, make sure there is plenty of water and change it out with cold ice water regularly.
Probably the biggest thing you want to remember about puppy being outside is that … puppy is outside. Go out there with him often to play and interact. Don't just put him out and forget about him.
Dogs need love and attention. They're social and can get depressed and lonely being left out there by themselves without any acknowledgement.
Hopefully, this was pretty simplistic enough to help with your DIY furry friend doghouse. We tried to give you every detail to make it easy so it will go quick. This way you and your pet can start to enjoy it as quickly as possible.
Your dog should have the coolest doghouse on the block after finishing this project given these instructions for decoration, painting and construction. Let us know when the housewarming is.
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